Algebra,Algebra of Expressions

1. (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2 ; a2 + b2 = (a + b)2 − 2ab

2. (a − b)2 = a2 − 2ab + b2 ; a2 + b2 = (a − b)2 + 2ab
3. (a + b + c)2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2(ab + bc + ca)
4. (a + b)3 = a3 + b3 + 3ab(a + b); a3 + b3 = (a + b)3 − 3ab(a + b)
5. (a − b)3 = a3 − b3 − 3ab(a − b); a3 − b3 = (a − b)3 + 3ab(a − b)
6. a2 − b2 = (a + b)(a − b)
7. a3 − b3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
8. a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 )
9. an − bn = (a − b)(an−1 + an−2 b + an−3 b2 + · · · + bn−1 )
10. an = a.a.a . . . n times
11. am .an = am+n
am
12. n = am−n if m > n
a
=1 if m = n
1
= n−m if m < n; a ∈ R, a 6= 0
a
13. (am )n = amn = (an )m
14. (ab)n = an .bn
 a n an
15. = n
b b
16. a0 = 1 where a ∈ R, a 6= 0
1 1
17. a−n = n , an = −n
a√ a
18. ap/q = q ap
19. If am = an and a 6= ±1, a 6= 0 then m = n
20. If an = bn where n 6= 0, then a = ±b
√ √ √ √
21. If x, y are quadratic surds and if a + x = y, then a = 0 and x = y
√ √ √ √
22. If x, y are quadratic surds and if a + x = b + y then a = b and x = y
23. If a, m, n are positive real numbers and a 6= 1, then loga mn = loga m+loga n
m
24. If a, m, n are positive real numbers, a 6= 1, then loga = loga m − loga n
n
25. If a and m are positive real numbers, a 6= 1 then loga mn = n loga m
logk a
26. If a, b and k are positive real numbers, b 6= 1, k 6= 1, then logb a =
logk b
1
27. logb a = where a, b are positive real numbers, a 6= 1, b 6= 1
loga b
28. if a, m, n are positive real numbers, a 6= 1 and if loga m = loga n, then
m=n
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√
29. if a + ib = 0 where i = −1, then a = b = 0
√
30. if a + ib = x + iy, where i = −1, then a = x and b = y √
−b ± b2 − 4ac
31. The roots of the quadratic equation ax2 +bx+c = 0; a 6= 0 are
2a
( √ √ )
−b + ∆ −b − ∆
The solution set of the equation is ,
2a 2a
where ∆ = discriminant = b2 − 4ac
32. The roots are real and distinct if ∆ > 0.
33. The roots are real and coincident if ∆ = 0.
34. The roots are non-real if ∆ < 0.
35. If α and β are the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, a 6= 0 then
−b coeff. of x
i) α + β = =−
a coeff. of x2
c constant term
ii) α · β = =
a coeff. of x2
36. The quadratic equation whose roots are α and β is (x − α)(x − β) = 0
i.e. x2 − (α + β)x + αβ = 0
i.e. x2 − Sx + P = 0 where S =Sum of the roots and P =Product of the
roots.
37. For an arithmetic progression (A.P.) whose first term is (a) and the common
difference is (d).
i) nth term= tn = a + (n − 1)d
n n
ii) The sum of the first (n) terms = Sn = (a + l) = {2a + (n − 1)d}
2 2
where l =last term= a + (n − 1)d.
38. For a geometric progression (G.P.) whose first term is (a) and common ratio
is (γ),
i) nth term= tn = aγ n−1 .
ii) The sum of the first (n) terms:

a(1 − γ n)
Sn = ifγ < 1
1−γ
a(γ n − 1) .
= if γ > 1
γ−1
= na if γ = 1

39. For any sequence {tn }, Sn − Sn−1 = tn where Sn =Sum of the first (n)
terms.
P
n n
40. γ = 1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + n = (n + 1).
γ=1 2
P 2
n n
41. γ = 12 + 22 + 32 + · · · + n2 = (n + 1)(2n + 1).
γ=1 6
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P
n n2
42. γ 3 = 13 + 23 + 33 + 43 + · · · + n3 = (n + 1)2 .
γ=1 4
43. n! = (1).(2).(3). . . . .(n − 1).n.
44. n! = n(n − 1)! = n(n − 1)(n − 2)! = . . . . .
45. 0! = 1.
n(n − 1) n−2 2 n(n − 1)(n − 2) n−3 3
46. (a + b)n = an + nan−1 b + a b + a b +···+
2! 3!
bn , n > 1.